Outback Steakhouse opens in Lakewood Ranch on Nov. 11

When Outback Steakhouse opens its new location in Lakewood Ranch, fittingly, the kangaroo and koala mascots are arriving in a golf cart.

“One of the things that’s cool about every Outback is that we all get a local art piece specific to that location,” Managing Partner J.B. Wild said. “This one (with a golf cart) is perfect for us.” 

The Outback on Cortez Road in Bradenton features a manatee, and the Sarasota location that closed down last year featured a koala dressed like a tourist. 

Wild worked at both of those Outbacks, and has also worked at a few others, but the Cortez location is special because that’s where he met his wife Danielle, who is now the communications accreditation manager for the Sarasota Sheriff’s Office.

Photo by Lesley Dwyer

Wild has a degree in criminal justice but has been with Outback Steakhouse on and off since 1998 when he started as a busboy. Since 2007, he’s steadily worked his way up to managing partner, which is the Outback version of a general manager but with an “ownership mentality.” 

“If someone walks in and asks who owns this place, I do. It’s whoever’s name is on the door,” Wild said. “You see a lot of managers stick around for a long time because Outback takes very good care of its employees.” 

While Wild has managed other locations, the location on Crossland Trail will be the first Outback he’s managed from Day One. 

The location is also closer to his Palmetto home. Wild spent the last two years commuting back and forth to the Trinity location in Pasco County. It's a major bonus that his family can stop by to see him at work.

The Outback in Lakewood Ranch is considered the “Joey model.” At under 5,000 square feet, it’s slightly smaller than other locations. The capacity is 216 diners, split between the bar and 44 tables. 

Residents are clearly ready to fill those seats. Once Wild started interviewing and cars were parked in the lot, he said people were walking in because they thought the restaurant was open for business.

But opening day is not until Nov. 11.

The restaurant will provide over 100 part-time and full-time jobs to the Lakewood Ranch area. Wild is almost finished hiring the staff, which he said will be debuting a new look for the chain. 

Outback is testing different uniform styles. The Lakewood Ranch location is going retro with staff wearing the original bushman shirts adorned with Outback pins. 

The staff will have the benefit of a test run the weekend before the Nov. 11 grand opening. "VIP weekend" is an invite-only soft opening. The food is on the house, and a percentage of the bar sales will be donated to the Bradenton Kiwanis Club. 

The managing partner chooses his or her charity of choice. Wild chose Kiwanis because his father John Wild, who died last year, was an active member. 

“Because of what Kiwanis meant to him, it’s got a place in my heart, too,” Wild said.

Photo by Lesley Dwyer 

Once open, the restaurant’s hours will be slightly different than other Outback locations in the area. Lunch will only be served Friday through Sunday. On Monday through Thursday, the restaurant won’t open until 3 p.m. 

However, dinner service has been beefed up with the addition of a few more steaks, including a 15-ounce Delmonico steak, a 12-ounce boneless strip steak and a 20-ounce bone-in ribeye steak.

And 'tis the season to open with the gingerbread martini, which Wild noted has become a staple of the holiday season across all Outback locations. 

“People love it,” he said. “It tastes just like a gingerbread cookie.”